Yes, it's finally
here. The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the Call
for Entries for its
12th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards is
the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks
based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes
the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create
and maintain outstanding Web sites.

When we began the
WebAwards back in 1997, there were plenty of advertising award
programs, and some even included a category for online media, but
none were devoted to recognizing and improving overall Web
development. We changed that!

We think the
WebAward Competition is the Best Website award competition for many
reasons:

We have a
transparent process. We tell you what the seven criteria for a
successful Website are and let the judges determine how to apply
them each year.

Our judges are
Internet experts and leaders in their industry from around the
world who volunteer their time because they are leaders in their
industry and understand the value of the WebAwards to the
Internet community.

All of our
sites get sent to the judges - not just a handful of
"finalists". In fact, each site is reviewed by 3-6 judges and
the final score is an average of the top two scores.

The awards are
industry specific, with 96 categories that you can enter. Your
sites are judged against their peers and each industry has its
own standard of excellence it should strive for - just like in
real life.

This year we
are introducing a new award image plaque with a modern look that
will look great on your office wall or in your company's trophy
case.

Winning a
WebAward is also a great marketing opportunity. Winners can use
press releases to drive traffic to your site and will receive
links from our site to help with SEO efforts.

Everyone who
participates gets feedback. Some will get specific comments from
the judges reviewing your site, but everyone will receive their
scores on each of the seven criteria and benchmark those scores
against your industry averages.

Everyone who
participates will also receive a copy of the 2009 Internet
Standards Assessment Report which provides more than a decade of
benchmarking data for your industry.

It is simple to
enter and last years sites can be reentered with a single click
from your nominator account.

If you have not
entered the WebAwards yet, now is the time to give it a try. It's
effortless to enter. Simply go to the WebAward Website, create a
nominator account and enter information about your site. The Web
Marketing Association will send their independent expert judges to
visit the site using seven criteria for an effective Website. If
your Website has the highest score in your industry, you will
receive a Best of Industry WebAward and a beautiful plaque for your
trophy case. Other sites will be recognized with an Outstanding
WebAward or a Standard of Excellence WebAward. All entries will
receive their scores in each of the criteria benchmarked against
their industry and overall Web development.

But you can't win
if you don't enter, so don't delay, enter the 2008 WebAwards today.

The deadline for
entry is May 31, 2008. A complete list of past winners and this
year's entry form can be found at
www.WebAward.org.

Call for
WebAward Judges

Each year, we look
to add experienced Internet professionals to the ranks of our
WebAward Judging Panel. We select new judges based on the number of
returning judges, the number of entries and the number of qualified
applicants. Being a WebAward judge is a valuable experience that
helps the individual better understand overall Web development and
of course looks impressive on a resume or corporate bio.

If you or someone
in your organization would make a good judge, you can nominate them
for consideration to be named a 2008 WebAward judge by using the
Judges Nomination Form.

If you have been a
judge in the past, you should have received an email with
instructions on how to participate this year. If not, please email
me and I will look into it for you.

We Need Your
Help

The Web Marketing
Association is a volunteer organization that each year produces the
WebAward program. We need your help in spreading the news about our
call for entry to other Internet Professionals. Our greatest
marketing asset is you our newsletter readers.

You can help by:

Emailing other
professionals or site owners and ask them to participate in the
WebAwards.

Blog about the
WebAwards. Either on your blog or industry blogs, write about our
call for entry or your experiences with the WebAwards. You can point
them to our blog posting for the Call for Entry.

Tell others within
your organization. It is difficult to maintain contact with past
participants via email. People change responsibilities, email
addresses change and companies merge. Make sure the correct people
within your organization, including offices in other cities know
about the WebAwards. The more awards your organization wins, the
more recognition you will receive.

With your help we
can have the most successful WebAward competition ever!

Webmaster
Radio.FM Awards Special

WebmasterRadio.FM, the premier free, 24/7 Internet business
radio network focused on the B2B marketplace and the official radio
network of the 12th Annual WebAwards is pleased to announce The Web
Marketing Awards Special airing April 4, 2008.

On the
WebmastereRadio.FM Awards Special, I speak with Josh Webb, Associate
Creative Director and Rocky Hunter, Account Supervisor from
IQ Interactive, the Atlanta-based interactive firm that won Best
of Show Runner Up in the 2007 WebAwards for their outstanding work
on the
UPS Whiteboard Website. Josh and Rocky will walk us through the
concepts and technology that make the UPS Whiteboard Website so
innovating and award winning.

Industry
Conferences

If you are
attending
ad:tech, April 15&17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco,
please stop by and see us in the exhibit hall in booth 6381. Also
look for Dennis Franczak, of FUSE/ideas who was the winner of the
conference pass drawing we held in the last issue of Interactive
Briefing.

Speaking of
winners, congratulations also goes out to Susan Prater, Interactive
Marketing Manager at Owens Corning who was selected to receive an
iTouch by stopping by our booth at Search Engine Strategies New York
Conference (another outstanding industry event)

We are giving away
several copies of Seth Godin's newest book Meatball Sundae: Is
your marketing out of sync. Please email your contact
information to
meatball@webaward.org and if you're selected, we will mail you a
copy of this interesting book courtesy of our friends at Search
Engine Strategies.

Bill Rice
President
Web Marketing Association

WebAward Competition- -- The
2008 WebAward competition Call for Entries is now open. Now is the
time to enter and the deadline is May 31, 2008.

Go Online to Reach the "Online At Work"
Audience - Reaching the office
worker with relevant advertising has always been difficult. The
Internet overcomes these challenges and offers advertisers a true
opportunity to effectively reach the "online at work" audience. To
better understand the "online at work" audience, Burst Media
surveyed over 11,500 web users 18 years or older on the online
activities they engage in while at work (PDF).

Website Magazine

If you're not
already getting Website Magazine, you should be. There's no charge
within the US and available for a small fee outside the U.S.(covers
the extra shipping). It has great in depth articles that are helpful
and well written.
Use this link to sign up to receive the next issue.

Conferences
are a great way to network and keep up with current trends and
technology. Here are some of the conferences that the Web Marketing
Association supports and will be attending.

Route 1 to 1: The
New eMarketing Essentials seminar from long time Web Marketing
Association supporter ExactTarget is heading your way. ExactTarget's
one-day seminar is coming to a town near you and will help you
improve your email marketing program. You'll learn how to: Engage
your prospects, Maximize your marketing ROI, Drive higher sales and
Build brand loyalty.

In other words,
Route 1 to 1 is the fast track to email marketing success! In
addition to informative ExactTarget presentations, top industry
experts and analysts will provide one-to-one marketing technology
insight, and ExactTarget clients will share real-life examples of
B2B and B2C email marketing success.

Join interactive
experts and your marketing peers for a networking breakfast and
lively panel discussion a on cutting edge technologies for b-to-b
marketers. From video and mobile marketing to social media and
widgets, you'll gain insight into the most effective digital
strategies as our panelists share those that have - and have not -
worked for them. BtoB's editor, Ellis Booker, will moderate.

Remaining Spring
2008 dates and locations:
Atlanta: April 23
San Francisco: May 8
Chicago: May 20

Internet World is
the leading event for decision-makers responsible for their
organisation's digital marketing and Internet presence taking place
in Earls Court, London from the 29 Apr -1 May 2008. It is the UK's
largest B2B Internet event. The 2008 Keynote Programme features BBC,
Microsoft, Intel, Habbo Hotel, Sony, Thomas Cook, Blinkx, IAB,
T-Mobile, McKinsey and Company amongst many others. You will hear
from over 300 speakers giving you the chance to master or introduce
yourself to Digital Marketing and the Business Internet technologies
ranging from IPTV, Mobile Internet, Web 2.0/3.0, Search/Behavioural
Targeting, Online Advertising, Hosting/Connectivity, Content
Management, Email Marketing, Ecommerce, Analytics/Measurement and
much more.

ad:tech is an
interactive advertising and technology conference dedicated to
connecting all sides of today's brand marketing landscape. Worldwide
shows blend keynote speakers, topic driven panels and interactive
workshops to provide attendees with the tools and techniques they
need to compete in a changing world. We're committed to bringing you
the now and the next of modern marketing.

At the Selling
Online Subscriptions Summit, , marketers will hear industry-expert
speakers' from companies, such as Zagat Survey, AG Interactive,
Encyclopedia Britannica and others, present ways to increase
subscription sales and conversion rates through optimal landing page
strategies and order process optimization. This year's panel
discussions delve into revenue strategies to keep up with and
support changing business models and Web 2.0 strategies for
acquisition and retention.

Pay Per Click
Summit, leading educational internet marketing workshop is excited
to partner with WMA and offer members a special 10% discount off
registration. Learn the insider strategies from Microsoft, Google,
Business.com and other industry leaders as they share secrets to
maximizing online marketing opportunities, outperforming
competitors, and increasing ROI. Gain top ad visibility at the
lowest cost! REGISTER BY APRIL 28 and SAVE $200 PLUS 10% (use code
WMA10) Questions? 800.507.2958 ext.703.